Real Conversations with Amy Miller EP:22

Hello, my friends and welcome. You're listening to soul inspired decisions, a podcast for ordinary moms living extraordinary lives. My intention with this podcast is to teach, motivate and inspire by sharing stories, tools and strategies to help you unlock your greatest fears, annoying habits and old stories and make a move towards the things that have been on your heart. If you have been a little lost, or in a funk, and want to reconnect with your purpose, your passion and feel empowered again, then this is the best place for you to be hanging out. My name is Carrie linkway. And I'm an ordinary mom making extraordinary decisions. This is me putting one foot in front of the other, moving towards my next goal, and hoping to inspire you along the way. Let's get started. Welcome back to soul inspired decisions. Today I have a guest with me, her name is Amy Miller. And I first met her probably about eight months ago. And we kind of just dove into conversation. And I popped on her Instagram and I said to my husband, holy crap, she's ripped. It was so exciting, because I mean, we talked about fitness, but I didn't know the extent of like, I do my own thing. I do triathlon, but you're really you downplayed it a little bit, which I do too. But it was very fascinating. See, so just following you the past year, I have many times thought I should switch my routine up in and join you. And I've looked and I've joined online, went on your stuff. And then then I talked myself out of it because I just like I got so many things on the go. I don't need to add another thing. But I think about it all the time, because you look so good. So welcome, Amy. Thank you.

Thank you so much for having me.

It's nice to it's nice to have a guest on here. I think there has been a little bit of a lull with moms wanting to talk and speaking. But I think everyone's coming out of it and shifting out of it. So I'm happy to have guests back on on the podcast again. So you're the first for the the winter season. And I'm looking forward to what you have in store for us to teach us and tell us. Awesome, great. So Amy, I'll just start off by asking you what can you just tell us about you?

Yeah, for sure. So um, I'm a mom of two little boys that are 11 months apart. So they're one and a half in two and a half. So we're busy, but at the same time, it's really nice because they're added on the same schedule. So this is during their nap times. And I get to you know, get some work done. My kitchen is a mess. But we'll get there you know. And so right now I'm a stay at home mom, I helped my husband run a small concrete company. And that's actually how I met you. We came to pick up a skid steer you guys. Yes is a really cool meeting. And so this is really neat to just be here after that random happened chance. I love it. Um, yeah, and then but before I was a stay at home mom, I was a youth pastor youth and young adult pastor for 10 years. So I had done my kind of career for a long time. And then Trevor and I got married, and then we decided to have kids and so now I'm sure. And I've started fitness coaching or online fitness coaching in the past years. So yeah, it's been a kind of a weird transition to like, go from more spiritual health to physical health, but I just see life. Like we're holistic beings. So our physical body affects our mental effects, or our spiritual and our emotional, relational, everything. And so I just think, like, I started my Instagram about a year and a bit ago, just wanting to really help moms and other women thrive. Like that's just my heart. And so, and then fitness coaching kind of came along with that, but basically, yeah, that's kind of the gist of it. You know, I'm a mom, but I love fitness and I love God and, and, you know, I just want to help moms Thrive really?

Yeah, I can relate to so much of that. So tell me how have has your mental health changed and improved since you started this journey? Because I know gives us fun, but gives us a lot of work. And we've also been shifted in life the last couple years. So how has this helps you mentally? How has how has it helped you move forward and all the things?

Yeah, so like, I've always been a gym goer more so even just for mental health. It's never necessarily been about weight loss on like, I do my yo yo diet kind of thing or just like binge eat and then try to work out really hard or go for an extra long run or something like that. So it's like not that that's healthy, but it was always more so I knew that I needed to move my body to feel Good, like mentally and in other ways, too. So that's always been something a part of my life. But then when I had kids, so, um, yeah, Cooper was three months old, I think when we found out that we were pregnant already again, and, and Levi was coming before Cooper was even 11 months old. So it was like, kind of a shock and, and then leave, I was born right at the beginning of the pandemic. And so it was born like, I think three weeks into lockdown. And so after that, obviously, the gym was closed. And I'm adjusting to having two very young little babies. And thankfully, sleep training worked for us, because that was my lifesaver. But I just it was like, because I'm still very involved in my church. I preached every now and then when I was on staff on a Sunday, and so my pastor asked me if I'd like to preach again, and the August, so leave, I would have been four months old Cooper would have been 15 months old. I was like, Yeah, I can do that. But leave, I wasn't sleeping initially, like the first few months were really difficult. And then we kind of turned a corner and I was like, Okay, I know, I need to start prepping to preach for this Sunday. That's coming up in August. So I need to make some changes in my life. And so up until that point, basically for like, a year and a half, I hadn't consistently worked out like I tried, but you know, with a little one and then being pregnant. It's like, how much can you really do? Right? Yeah. So I was like, okay, and after enough, I have some more of a routine now with my boys, I need to get to the gym, because I need to move my body. And if I'm going to use my nap times to prep to preach, then that means that I have to wake up earlier. And I can't do it during nap times anymore. So and then the last thing was like, if I'm going to be prepping to preach, I better be reading my Bible as well. And so because up until that point, it had been sporadic as well being a new mom and just that adjustment, right. But that's really like a staple for me. And like just, yeah, that's huge for me. And so it was like these three things I need to put back in my life. And so I started setting an alarm, which was like, painful, and yes, for my boys. But it was night and day different. Like all of a sudden knocks like, wow, I have this, even if it's a half hour before my boys wake up, I'm feeling more like myself again, because I'm taking time to pour into me. And I'm creating that space, because when they're around they they need me, you know. And so I was creating that space to pour into myself spiritually to get spiritually healthy, as well as physically healthy again. And so the month of July, I really poured into that. And then I went hiking with my husband and our boys and, and we were talking about dreams. And I was like, I should start an Instagram. And he's like, do it. I was like, Okay, enough talking about things. I'm just gonna do it. Do it, right. But I just I was like, I feel like so many moms are just trying to survive. And I'm like, I believe that we can thrive in this and but it takes putting some things in place, like getting organized, or in prioritizing and not like it's funny, because in the fitness world, especially on social media, it seems like fitness influencers are like, this is my life. But it's like, no, this is not my life. This is something I do so that I can be better in my life, you know, a better mom, better wife, better person of community or like the community, you know. And so I just wanted to help other moms in that way. It really like, hey, let's, let's get some things in place. Let's get organized. Let's Declutter. Let's, you know, let's start investing half hour a day or three times a week into your health because it will be a game changer. And that's what it's been for me like. So yeah, that's kind of my random journey to where I am now.

No, that's great. That's great. And that's a really important lesson. So when people talk to me, or they hear that I do triathlon, they think that that's my world. But it's not my world. That's a chunk that has been my world. And that has been, you know, from the wake up in the morning, that's what you thrive and think and live around for, you know, for 14 months. That was my entire life. But that's not my life. Now. It is exactly what you see organizing, prioritizing and decluttering and doing all the things to make your dreams happen because you find how much more energy you have much more alive you feel. You have. Just in the moments you have spoke with me this in this, what 10 minutes we've been speaking, you've said three times, the things that you've taken action on and they're actually inspired action in the moment you go with your gut go with what God's saying to you and you go with it and it just has carried us So that's, that's amazing. And this the alarm setting as a mom is tough. It's I just talked to a mom who has shifted her life with three kids. And the only way she can get a workout in is at five in the morning. And but now she loves it. And but it took a really big, exactly like you said, it's a life shift. And it's a commitment. It really is. But it doesn't have to be your life. But let me ask you how, how guilty do you feel when you miss your workout or training or your time to read? When you don't do now that you have such a routine?

Oh, like I just noticed it physically, like my body and my mental state. So like, just sleeping on Saturdays? Well, I still do to an extent but like sleep until seven or whatever, right when the boys wake me up. And then I try to work out later during their nap times. But my husband started saying like, Amy, you're really grumpy?

Yes, they call us out.

Exactly. It was like, oh, shoot, like, I gotta I gotta get better at this. And like, I just know, more and more like how psychologically it affects me if I don't get that in. And, and yet, I also just want to encourage people to like, Hey, if you miss a workout, don't beat yourself up. That's life, like, so just don't let it derail you. It's not that you failed. It's just that life happened. And where success lies is starting up again. You know, and one of like, my husband and I, like we love just this little phrase, but it's like, never stopped starting, you know, like, just so if you have to start 50 times, that's awesome. Just keep starting. And that's what actually success is, you know, it's not the ones who have no trials. It's the ones who actually keep going, despite the trials or Despite the setbacks, you know, and so, yeah, I don't let it get to me too much. But I also my boys are a little bit older now. And so I can fit a 30 minute workout in while they're clean. They might get in my way, or it might be distracting or whatever. But it's like, this is life. That's okay. Or I might just like, read my Bible while they're playing or say you go read your book, and I'm going to read my book, you know, and so it works out. Okay, I have a little bit more leeway. But I know that like now, yeah, I set my alarm for just after five. And that's like, I try to get my Bible reading there. And then my workout and because otherwise, it's it's just too hard to get it in later on, on a consistent basis.

Again, I love your Instagrams because it's real life you're showing, like, there's toys around and things like you're you're doing it as a mom like this, you're building a career, you're building a life for you. But it's real life. And that's, I love that. That's it, because I'm like, you know, we're always like, who doesn't clean their house. And I mean, we were just talking about how you were just saying how messy your kitchen was, and I'm like, my, my whole house looks like a bomb went off. I don't even know where the time goes by. And I feel like I, I feel guilty when my husband comes home, I've really done nothing. I'm like, I don't even know what we did today. But I have had no time to do anything. Being I know that working out is a very big part of like, that's what my whole day is scheduled around. Like, I know what this time I'm going to do it and I don't care if the kids are by the treadmill, on the couch climbing a tree, I'm going to do it and they're going to be okay. And and then 30 minutes, they learn to adapt, they learn to adjust, they learn to read on their own, they they learn to have that little bit of independence. And they also learn where the cookies are when you're not looking.

Yes.

You know you but you still got your mom's senses on that. They're, they're around and they're they're doing things but they're also learning, right? They're learning that that's a part of life, you know, moms, I say we work out because we need a healthy heart and it's good for our bodies. And I want them to know that that that's a forever life thing to to just stay active. Yeah. Yeah, totally cool. Good. So what would you say to a mom who's at home, going into the holiday season who's overwhelmed, stressed? Thinking of like, you know, the New Year's is right around the corner and I'm going to start what types of tips or advice do you have for someone who's sitting on the fence looking for someone something new?

Um, I just say start now. Like, don't ever wait to start is how I feel like because then if you start now, once the new year comes, you somewhat have like some sort of routine or maybe you kind of know what to expect or what you need. Like, I am just um, yeah, somebody was like, just go for it. But also I recognize that the holidays are super are busy and overwhelming. And I think in that sense, I'm like, Yes, get your like, get active because it's going to help you cope with all of that, like, unfortunately, Christmas, and it's become such a busy season, but even one that has so many expectations as well. And I, this year, I'm actually finally starting to, like, slow down and be like, No, we don't have to do that. My, you know, like, why are we doing this? So I'm just taking some time actually for reflection myself. And so like, I'm going through like an Advent devotional with some girls. And that's actually been really good. Because it's like, Wait, what is Christmas about again, like, let's come back to the basics. Rather than getting caught up in like, Oh, I got to get these gifts, or I have to bake those cookies or go to this party or like, whatever, there's just so much. And it's like, just stop, and just sit and reflect and practice thankfulness and gratitude, because that's going to bring more even peace in the holidays. And, like, I go back and forth, because on one hand, I'm always like, get active, it will help your whole life. But on the other hand, it's I just tell some of my clients like it's supposed to add to your life. So if you're starting to feel stressed out about it, or like a failure, that's not helpful. So let's reevaluate and look at this differently. And so it's like, don't get upset, don't feel this guilt it's supposed to add to your life. And so how can we make this add to your life, rather than feel guilty about it, if that makes sense. And so, I don't know, I feel like every person is different. And I like to chat with each person individually to see where they're at. Because some people just need a kick in the butt to do something will need like, some support to just say, It's okay. Let's take a breather. Let's Riku. And let's pick a date that you start, you know, so it depends on the person. But so I'd encourage people like other moms and women to reflect themselves to say, what do they need, like, and if they're unhappy with their body, if they're unhappy with how they feel, maybe start small start three times next week, you know, to just like, either get out for a walk, or like, yeah, find a YouTube video or whatever. Like, I'm starting a program on Monday, that's just 20 minutes a day. And I'm pumped on that, because it's like, okay, everybody can make 20 minutes, you know, like, we can make that work. Um, and so in that sense, find small things. Like my husband always says, like, pick the low hanging fruit, what are the things that you can succeed in now? And start with those, you know, just start setting an alarm, just start eating somewhat healthy or cutting back on? Like, you know, whatever it has to be right. So, yeah, that's what I would say and encourage.

Yeah, that's good. Now, does your husband get up at 5am? Workout? Yes, he does. Good. So he likes to work out and do some fitness as well.

Yes. I'm actually a lot more hardcore than I do.

Okay. Okay. So for late, you ladies, my husband doesn't work out. It's not his thing. It's, it's completely my thing. I don't pressure I don't push I don't, I don't judge it is really my thing for my mental health. And to know that I can keep up with the kids because I'm, gosh, I'm old. And they have a lot of energy. And so being able to function and go after them is is important to me. But I don't, I don't pressure my husband. It's not his thing. And that's okay. So if you have a partner who has always wanted you to work out, maybe this is the time to look at something a little different to get you motivated to get you hanging out together in a different a different way as well, because it is fun. I've always enjoyed, my husband will hike. And he'll walk. But I mean, he's probably we've been married for 21 years. And he's probably ran two times in that whole time. You know, if and I don't pressure it's not a thing, and that's okay. Yeah. It's just finding balance in your life and with the kids. And that's really important. And I like what you said about it's just finding you and it sounds like you've really found you on this journey in in a new way. And that's cool. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's good. And I'd like that then never stop starting. That's, that's really nice as well. So tell me what you have going on. If someone's on the fence of thinking about working out or starting a program with somebody new. What do you have looking forward into the new year of what what, what you're all about and what you got going on?

Yeah, so like I said, I'm starting a new program with a few people like the reason that I love it. coaching with Beachbody is because like, I'm not a personal trainer. And I would love to maybe get certified down the road. But with two little ones, I just didn't have the time or the capacity. But I wanted to help people. And this was introduced to me a year and a bit ago. And initially, I was like, There's no way it's going to be lame. I hate home workouts like I was a gym snob, but my, like getting to the gym was not happening as consistent as I wanted just between COVID and babies and everything. And so I did a two week trial, and I felt better results than I ever had. I was like, well, if I'm going to do this, and I want to help people, I might as well start coaching because the professionals, the personal trainers are the ones who do the videos, I just get to cheerlead people and hold them accountable and invite them to try something. Because it has been a game changer. For me, my husband's actually always shocked. He's like, I don't know how you're getting results. But man, it works. You know, we just were all about like, moreso bodybuilding in the gym. Like, that's the only way. But this has been game changing, you know. And so I started coaching with them. And basically, like I said, I'm an accountability cheerleader, you know, and I just get to walk people through try to find programs that fit them. And so there's tons of different programs to choose from. And then there's also nutrition programs, there's two different nutrition programs available. And so I love that because I'm not a nutritionist, but I get to work with people and walk them through things like these programs that legit nutritionists have put together like the one lady was a UCLA, like or worked for UCLA. And she was, she's a proof of the product like she was over, I don't even know. But when she was in grade eight, I think she went to or maybe it was eight years old, she went to fat camp. And she was just always like, had this binge eating cycle and would gain 50 pounds throughout the year and then lose 30 at Fat camp. And then finally, she had a breaking point after high school. And she's like, I want to be a nutritionist. And because those are the people that always seemed happy, and I want to help people, well, then she ended up losing over 100 pounds, even after kids. And now she's just helping people like, and so she's put out this these nutrition programs. And I love being able to help other moms and introduce them to this because I was daunted like by how do I lose the baby weight after two kids? No, is it possible, but it's not about like restrictive dieting, it's literally learning how to eat intuitively, you know, and so I love that I get to help people with that. So anyways, in the new year, like, I'll be running this, this program, again, this job one is what it's called. And so it's 20 minutes a day. And it's just this idea of go hard for 20 minutes, as if it was your job, you know, let's take care of ourselves as if it was our job and showing up for that consistently. So 20 minutes a day, five days a week for four weeks. So I do programs with people and we work out throughout the day, whenever it works. And then we log into our accountability group, and we just show up and it's, it's inspiring, because you see other people showing up, like, yeah, I have friends on there who are nurses who are like, and nursing right now, in this pandemic has not been fine, you know, but, um, it's inspiring, I'm like, if they can do it, I can do it, you know. So like that, I'll be starting that again in January doing another group. And then I've started like doing zoom calls with different women who have like, access to the nutrition programs, and we watch them together. And then we just have to chat about them. And so we're sharing, like, we'll talk about meal planning and meal prep, and just like based on the nutrition programs, and we share those, those different ideas that we have, like, Hey, this is a meal that I'm going to try. And so it's just that accountability of knowing I'm not alone, right. And so I'll start up another group starting in January to work through one of their nutrition programs together and learn that so that you can then go forward and actually apply it because I find sometimes it's hard for people to even find a workout or fit a workout in, let alone learn a nutrition program. So I'm like, let's meet for four weeks online for 45 minutes. And then you will have all of the tools you'll know it but it's like we're sitting down and having coffee and learning this together and then you can apply it so that's coming up in the New Year as well to another group of like that. So that sounds

so cool. And I do have some friends who have been they've been doing Beachbody for a long time since they've had kids and they love it and I am always jealous in a sense of that they're at home lifting weights and you know, now that I don't have to carry the kids around anymore. I feel weaker like I swim three times a week I run I buy but I, I feel like the muscle now I don't have to carry the kids anymore. I feel weaker. You know, I'm just 43. And I feel like I'm just so weak compared to my 20s. That's getting old. No, yes. So that is actually why I haven't looked at your programs, honestly, is because I'm like, I should just get some strength back in my body again. And I used to love Jillian Michaels. And it was it's tough like she put some heart and you know, 15 years ago, no problem I would live for being sore for weeks. Now as the kids I'm I'm too tired to be sore because of the kids because I mean, even last night just being up with Leo in the middle of night with his ear hurting and you're exhausted all like the mom things. So then I don't want to start something that I'm not going to continue with as well. Like I know the patterns I know the routines. Yeah, but just being I guess honest with yourself and where you can start and and it sounds like you have great support systems that can help moms with that or or just women in general or men and you do work with men as well. God Yeah, I

do. Like not as much. My is like my target audience is more women. But there are definitely some men that I work with as well.

Great. So hi, cuz I see you posting some, like little recipes because you're you're good at popping things in on your little feed. So what's your favorite recipe? What can you what can you tell us? Like what's

your favorite recipe. I'm like, I'm really bad cook. So that is hard for me sometimes. But there's a white, white bean chili, like in the Insta pot, and it's probably my favorite. I'm actually making it this evening for supper. So I love that and I got it just off of the blog with Beachbody. And then I've gotten a couple other like I make a lot of muffins for my boys, but I don't like putting in tons of sugar and that kind of thing. And so I've played around there's like, actually this baked oatmeal or carrot baked oatmeal kind of recipe and so I you bake those and it's with there's no flour, there's no sugar, like, there's nothing in them hardly. But it's sweetened with like applesauce and honey. That's one of my go twos and favorites. And I found some new like zucchini loaf recipes that my dad had and was like, this is the best loaf you've ever made. And there was no sugar in it. So like it's not that I don't feed my boys sugar. Like they definitely have ketchup and barbecue sauce and like you know, but I try to limit it somewhat and in and everything. So those have been some of my favorite recipes that are found just because we like they're so great for a to go snack for the boys. And it's not chock full with you know, all of this processed sugars.

Make sense? Yes. So how about when this when this podcast goes live, I'll get you to snap a picture of your carrot Oatmeal Recipe, and then we'll share with the viewers and listeners as well. So they'll get you from all angles of what you can offer. This is so great. Any any advice to anyone looking to start something new, do something different? Or shake things up a little bit?

Yeah, like, if you're just not satisfied with life, I'd say step back reevaluate, see what needs to be a priority, and then make it a priority. And if that requires investing some money or time, do it I find when I invest in a gym membership, for instance, or in a class, it's like, well, I've paid the money. I better go Yeah, so I just say like, and you can actually tell your values based on how you spend your time and money. Right. And so if there's a desired value that isn't current yet, then invest time and money in it. And you will be shocked at what happens with that. And then I always say like, do it with people. So find one other person that you can do this journey with whatever it be, you know, like, if it's food, if it's spirituality, if it's fitness, like don't do it alone, I really firmly believe that we are not created to be isolated islands like we are created for community and so like that's where this semester has been really good for me spiritually to be back in community. Meeting with a couple other moms and just talking about spiritual things or going through a book study and like, you know, or even my fitness journey now journey with people through our accountability group, like I just think, find somebody to do whatever it is do it with somebody else. So

yeah, that makes perfect sense. And it sounds like you found your groove and that's one thing too is when you really want results into Make some movement and changes in your life, you really do need to invest. And if you're wavering and think it's too much money, you know what the one thing I've learned over the years is it's never about the money. So what's the real reason? That's what's really stopping you? What are you telling yourself? What are your stories, and that will get you to the bottom line of why you aren't moving forward and why you're making that your excuse? Because it's never about the money. But if you really want the results, you can make it happen. And you'll always find a way. Yeah. Sorry,

just on that, like, I actually find a lot of like, I had one girl, even yesterday, say, I'm scared to commit because I don't want to fail. And that's I think, a lot of the time, or what people are scared of is that fear of failure? What if I fail? And I've just realized, even with coaching, because I was like, I don't want to do this, like, is it cringy. And then I was like, you know, what, who cares what other people think, and who cares, if I fail, I'm gonna learn in the process. And there's a lot to learn. And I just realized, I do not want to live my life, out of fear of failure,

right. And that also is, right there is that's your story, like you've quit on yourself so many times before. And if you can stop and recognize that that's your story. Now you can really shift it and make a new story and really stick to who you want to be and what you want to be and how you want to move forward. So that that is perfect. That is amazing. Oh, that's great. So Amy Miller, she's online, and she will have all the links on below in the show notes. And you can find her so she's, you're in the red do area. And shout out to your husband in the red area. If anyone needs any concrete work, he's looking for all sorts of opportunities, as well as Amy, and just getting women into the A New Groove this year. 2022 is just around the corner. And I think that you have a lot to offer. And I think they, you have lots of real life, wisdom that you're willing to share. And that's what not all of us are able to do. So just being part of following you and seeing what you're up to is and seeing that you're doing it with your kids and the mess and things. It's just real life that is honestly real life. And sometimes we're scared to show that. And that's what we really want to see because it's hands down relatable. That's how we move forward with each other, supporting each other. So that's really cool. So, organize, prioritize, and D cope, Declutter. So those were some tips you had and finding you so never stop starting. Those are some really great advice pieces that you have for women out there any last any last remarks or anything you want to share, say before we go.

Yeah, I guess one thing that I've just been learning recently is like, loving your body, for where it's at now. And so even fitness wise, don't. Like if you're in a place that you don't like, I would encourage you to refocus and think through and like say the things that you're proud about your body for. And don't punish it with fitness, because that's never gonna fit. Like, it's never gonna last if it's a punishment, but rather like I was reading through this book this semester, and it's like, our bodies have been created. Good, my good God. And I guess that's just been huge for me and wanting to really share that with other one, I start from that place, my body is good. Things may have have happened to it, I may have treated it poorly. But that isn't what it is at the court. It is good. And let's work from it and care from it from that stance, that it's good. And so let's take care of it. So I don't know, I've just been loving that mind shift for myself and sharing that with anybody that I can. It's like, start from the place that your body is good and take care of it. So yeah, I guess I'd leave people with that.

Perfect, I love it. That's a wonderful way to identify where you want to where you are and where you want to go and how to how to shift things. And Amy is available to help you with that. So I thank you for coming on and sharing this time with you. And I can't wait to see what you do this next year.

Yeah, thank you so much.